Alan MallettStrong winds, particularly on Saturday, trimmed the fleets considerably at Open events. At Barton the YBODs were particularly affected by the shortage of storm jibs, a necessary adjunct to the close reef called for.Alan Mallett

Strong winds, particularly on Saturday, trimmed the fleets considerably at Open events.

At Barton the YBODs were particularly affected by the shortage of storm jibs, a necessary adjunct to the close reef called for. It may be worth suggesting that the solution lies in having a superannuated full size jib cut down!

Four boats braved the best the wind could do, and were joined on Sunday by a further two, for what turned out to be reasonably comfortable sailing on the first day and much more so on Sunday, with everyone sailing three up. The result was clear. Christian Young won all four races to take pride of place, ahead of Sally Dugdale, with Barton based Simon Daniels third.

The most challenged competitors were the seven youngsters who went to Horning for their nationals on Saturday. Facing conditions that made their seniors elsewhere, in larger craft, think twice, they braved gusts of up to Force 7 for their morning races, sailed on Black Horse Broad.

The first race went to Simon Bennett who ultimately came out on top over Trent Valley's Ben Haynes. The second race followed a like pattern, until seconds before the end when Haynes capsized letting Horning's Joanne Moore through for second. Haynes was not alone, all capsized at one time or another, the best two being when Charli Hadden and Rachel Higgs synchronized their horizontal moments perfectly when rounding a mark.

The afternoon session was moved to the river, based on the clubhouse, and six remained for the fight. Horning's James Galloway led the third race until he capsized, leaving Joanne Moore to take the honours, and this led to a thrilling finale, with all four finishers completing in a 40-second spell, Simon Bennett again winning to take the title from Joanne Moore, who counted a first and two seconds, with Ben Haynes third thanks to a second, third and fourth.

The Star fleet at Wroxham suffered similarly, with only two boats completing all the races sailed, if one counts one race where only Danny Tyrrell ventured out, for one round!

Tyrrell took the Star Silver Salver home on the back of two wins, the other winner, and runner-up being Ed Landamore who fought Tyrrell all the way .

This weekend Hickling entertain the Leader class dinghies, NBYC the Norfolks, WOBYC hold the Waveney OD Championships and Yare SC hold the 25th Anniversary Water Frolic with the River Cruiser Class at Bramerton. RNSYC stage the second BOD Simo Trophy race and a Topper training session on the Saturday, followed on Sunday by a Topper Eastern region Travellers meeting.

Moving on a week to the start of July, Frostbites hold the second leg of their team match against Wells in Sharpies. NBYC have their first open Cruiser meeting of the year while Buckenham hold their July Open regatta. One day events include, on Saturday July 3, the third of three Simo Trophy races at Lowestoft, and Open Days at the Punt Club and at WOBYC. Sunday, July 4 sees GYGSC's Open Sprint Series No 3 and the Bittern Open meeting at Barton Broad.